On another occasion the thing I wanted most was just beyond my reach. I hoped and prayed that it would come my way but it never did.

In yet another situation, it was obvious that things needed to be done differently and yet I sat and wondered what it would take for change to occur.

All three of these scenarios have one thing in common. Can you see what it is? These three situations are all encountered by a passive person… me. It has taken me way too long to learn one of life’s most crucial lessons: When you initiate you win.

When you initiate, you will have the conversations you need to have.

When you go first, you will move toward the things you want and need.

When you take the initial step toward someone you will build relationships.

When you have a bias for taking the initiative, you will lead people into necessary change.

When you initiate you win!

That one difference making word, initiate, makes all the difference.

I love to define leadership as using your influence to bring about change. What I have learned is that influence without initiating doesn’t bring about change; it brings a critical spirit and a whining personality. Notice I said “whining” not “winning.” The difference is in initiating the necessary actions.

How good are you at initiating? It used to be a weakness of mine and now I consider it a strength.

How did I do it? I actually began to believe that when you initiate, you win.

And I like to win.

Initiating is a key to your leadership. But how do we initiate change? How are you at initiating?

Author: Brian Zehr

Enthusiastic co-founder and Leadership Architect at Intentional Impact. In addition to my leadership at Intentional Impact, I am also actively engaged as a speaker across the country and at many of the campuses of Community Christian Church in the Chicagoland area.